Choosing your topic is the first step in the Ph.D. research process. The topic you choose plays a vital as well as important role in the outcome of your research project. The supervisor may assign you a specific research topic, but most often supervisors require you to select your own research topic of interest. When navigating through several interesting research titles, it becomes necessary to strike the right balance between interest and societal needs.

In this article, you will see how to find the perfect research topics in just five easy steps, stress-free.

  • Brainstorming is a technique you can use to help you generate ideas.
  • Background research will help you develop your topic and hone or change it in more appropriate ways.
  • Develop a research question.
  • Think about some general approaches that may help you further develop your topic.
  • Start doing some exploratory, in-depth research.

Right Research Topic/Title in Just 5 Easy Steps

 

Ask yourself the following questions to help you generate research topic ideas:

  • Do you have a strong opinion on a current social or political debate?
  • Did you read or see a news story recently that has interested you?
  • Do you have a personal matter, drawback or interest that you would like to know more about?
  • Is there an aspect of one of your classes that you would like to learn more about?

A good topic is...

  • something you are interested in
  • relevant to the requirements of the assignment
  • able to be supported by evidence

Be aware that selecting a good research title may not be easy. It must be narrow and focused enough to be interesting, yet broad enough to find sufficient data. Before selecting your topic, make sure you know what your final project should look like.

Common Mistakes
There are several misunderstanding that students and early-stage scholars commit during the process of research title selection. Some of the most common mistakes include:

  • Extending thesis work even after graduate school
  • Choosing an obscure, unrelated, or non-compelling research topic
  • Letting PhD advisors choose research topics for you